Samoyeds are known for their friendly attitude and love of playing and running around with their owners and other dogs. Samoyeds are the kind of dogs that need to keep themselves busy with many activities to make them feel like they are working and needed.
Are Samoyeds High Energy? Samoyeds are high-energy dogs because they are working dogs. They will need daily work and other exercises to deplete some of their energy and ensure that they won’t misbehave inside the house when they are bored and don’t know what to do with their energy.
Keep reading to learn when an owner of a Samoyed can expect their dog to start calming down and how much exercise a Samoyed needs daily. There will also be a list of some exercises owners can use to occupy their Samoyeds while still fulfilling their mental health needs.
Are Samoyeds High Energy?
Samoyed dog breed was designed as working dogs with a history of herding and pulling sleds, so they have a lot of energy to use up. Their high energy levels are suitable for working. Still, they can cause some issues for regular owners who now need to find ways of entertaining and exhausting their Samoyeds, so they don’t start digging up the backyard or chewing at the furniture.
Samoyeds are best suited for owners and families that are very active and participate in outdoor activities often since this allows for the Samoyed to get out and exercise. They are excellent jogging and running companions and enjoy trips to dog parks where they can explore and meet other dogs.
When Do Samoyeds Calm Down?
Samoyeds are not much of a “calm” breed compared to other dog breeds at any point in their lives. However, Samoyeds will start to adjust to their daily routines better around the 24 to 36 months of age range, resulting in them being less excitable.
However, they are still very active, high-energy dogs and require a lot of exercise to use up their energy, so they are unlikely to fully calm down until they are quite old and may not b able to keep up with the same activities.
How much exercise does a samoyed need?
Samoyeds need a minimum of 2 hours of exercise every day. If they do not get the exercise they need throughout the day, they are very likely to get bored and find their own ways of entertaining themselves, resulting in chewed furniture and holes in the yard.
There are three main areas that a Samoyed need to have activity in on a daily basis:
- Walking
- Purposeful activities
- Mental stimulation
While 2 hours of activity is suitable for most Samoyeds, there are slightly different needs for young puppies and older dogs. Puppies should only need free play to get the exercise they need since over-exercising can cause harm to their joints. Older dogs still need some activity to keep their joints and muscles in good health but not enough to make them sore.
The importance of a daily walk
Going on a daily walk is one of the most accessible and most important forms of exercise for a Samoyed. Walks allow an outlet for pent-up energy and allow Samoyeds to stimulate their minds with new sights, sounds, and smells. It also functions as a bonding experience between owner and dog, resulting in better mental health for a Samoyed and a better training experience.
A daily walk should be between 30 to 45 minutes long. It doesn’t need to be all at once and can be two shorter walks at different times during the day depending on the Samoyed’s owner’s schedule. However, Samoyeds like routine, so the walk should be at the same time or times every day, so owners should be sure to pick a schedule they know they can maintain.
Remember that Samoyeds (being high-energy dogs) love having a sense of freedom, so going to a dog park or elsewhere where they can walk off-leash is preferable. If not, a retractable leash that allows for a long lead will be better than trying to take control over the walk from them.
How well do Samoyeds do in the heat?
Samoyeds have a thick coat of fur that helps them in colder climates. However, this thick fur can make it difficult for Samoyeds to tolerate hot weather, and exercising outside during the summer months can result in heat stress or heat stroke. Avoid activities that are in direct sunlight or move the Samoyed’s activities indoors when it is too hot outside.
Samoyed owners should learn the warning signs of overheating so they can better protect their dogs.
Why exercising is so crucial for Sayomeds
Samoyeds need to keep busy or start to find their own ways of entertaining themselves, which could be bad news of any cherished furniture in the house. A bored Samoyed may even try to escape their home’s property to occupy their minds or to find new people and dogs to interact with.
One of the main activities that bored Samoyeds get into is digging. If there is an outdoor space with enough ground is dig in, a Samoyed is likely to give it a try, partly to keep themselves entertained, but it could also be to escape the heat by laying on the cool dirt.
How to let Samoyeds dig without ruining the backyard
Exercising and keeping a Samoyed busy are great ways of preventing a Samoyed from getting bored enough to start digging on their own, but some dogs enjoy digging as a way of playing. Sometimes it’s easier to encourage the behavior, so they only dig in certain spots than get rid of it altogether.
Allocating part of the backyard for digging can look like buying a children’s sandbox or having a patch of the yard be loose soil or sand and training a Samoyed to only dig in that area. Remember that sand can get very hot if left in direct sunlight so putting the digging site in a shaded area or covering it when not in use is a good idea.
There are also toys like the iDig Go, which allow dogs to have a digging area inside, suitable for owners who have limited outdoor space or want to keep their Samoyed inside during hot weather.
Can I go running with my Samoyed?
Since Samoyeds have so much energy and stamina, they are excellent companions to take along for a run or jog. They can even bring a Samoyed along while cycling is a perfect way of using up a good chunk of their energy.
However, any owner wishing to take their Samoyed along for these activities should remember that they will need to build up the distance and intensity over time. Otherwise, the Samoyed may injury themselves or over-exhaust themselves trying to keep up. Owners should also bring plenty of water along for their Samoyed to keep them hydrated and prevent overheating.
Giving Samoyeds work to entertain them
As Samoyeds are high-energy working dogs, giving them something that makes them feel purposeful is an excellent way of using up their energy and helping promote good mental health since it can boost their feelings of self-worth. The best kind of “work” activity for them is giving them something to pull.
Depending on where they live, Samoyeds can pull a sled or some wheeled vehicle like a scooter or a wagon. Remember to use the proper pulling harness to distribute the weight, which will prevent injury.
Weight pulling is also a great way to give a Samoyed something purposeful while getting them the exercise they need and building muscle. Having the correct harness is very important when weight pulling since not distributing the weight properly can quickly lead to injury. Also, be careful of how much weight the Samoyed is pulling. Start with a lightweight and slowly add more over time.
Final Thoughts
Are Samoyeds High Energy? Samoyeds have a lot more energy than the average dog breed and will need a family or owner who can keep them active and busy for hours a day. They’re not meant to spend long periods indoors and will need some activities which make them feel purposeful, like pulling a sled or wagon.
The best ways of using up some of a Samoyeds energy are activities they can do with their owners or other dogs since this helps use some of their pent-up energy, offers mental stimulation, and fulfills their social needs.